The current webpage is designed to make additional research available concerning how certain vegetables can enhance the treatment effects of Adriamycin (doxorubicin). These foods have significant levels of compounds that act as Adriamycin sensitizers or protect against Adriamycin-induced toxic side effects. Below are links to studies relating to the beneficial vegetables in Foods to eat and avoid during Adriamycin.
Vegetable consumption heightens the cytotoxic effects of Adriamycin on breast cancer cells or protects from its toxic side effects mainly through the actions of various phytonutrients, among them:
- Isothiocyanates such as AITC & PEITC (found in cruciferous vegetables such as arugula, cauliflower, and radishes)
- Apigenin (bok choy, celery, garlic)
- Anthocyanins (purple carrots, purple sweet potatoes, red cabbage)
- Beta-carotene (butternut squash, carrots, pumpkins)
- Cucurbitacins (cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini)
- I3C/DIM (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, watercress)
- Ferulic acid (artichokes)
- Fisetin (onions)
- Kaempferol (chives, leeks, mustard greens)
- Lupeol (olives)
- Lutein (collard greens, romaine lettuce, turnip greens)
- Luteolin (celery, hot peppers, radicchio)
- Lycopene (bell peppers, tomatoes)
- Quercetin (hot peppers, onions, romaine lettuce)
- Rutin (black olives, tomatoes)
- Sulforaphane (broccoli sprouts, kale, radishes)
- Vitamin C (baby zucchini, bell peppers, hot peppers)
Vegetable phytochemicals should be obtained by eating vegetables rather than taking supplements. When a beneficial micronutrient is administered at low doses by consuming food, it is likely to have subtle chemopreventive effects, whereas the same compound administered at high doses is more likely to have pharmacological effects, with possible unwanted outcomes. For example, apigenin can act both as an estrogen and as an anti-estrogen depending on the circumstances, with the potential to stimulate the growth of ER+ breast cancer. In addition, apigenin supplementation has been reported to reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy under some conditions.